"You can make one reasonable request to the Duchy, as long as it doesn't endanger the interests of the Duchy, the request shall be fulfilled."
Prime Minister Zed stood up in reflex and wanted to ask the Duke to reconsider his decision.
This seemed like a simple request but they had no idea about Constantine's background. He had the potential to bring them enormous trouble and might even end them up in grave danger.
But the Duke gave him a side-eyed glance and Zed sat down like a deflated balloon.
The crowd was too focused on Varian to notice this change. Only Akira witnessed the little interaction and her lips under the hood curled up lightly. The disdain in her heart against the Duke rose, if it's even possible to rise anymore.
'An old man who can't even tolerate a second opinion. No wonder this Duchy never had a chance to revive to its former glory.'
Varian was keenly aware of Akira's changes but he put it aside to focus on the request. It's also what Akira 'ordered' him to do.
"Your Majesty Duke, my heart bleeds for Centaurus. But I believe in your great capabilities to revive our glory. Time, however, is cruel to everyone." Varian's words shocked everyone in the throne hall.
While his words seemed harmless, he was implying that the Duke was old and reaching death! This was equivalent to cursing the ruler of the Duchy to death! A capital offense!
Cassius' enthusiastic smile also receded and he looked at Varian plainly. "What do you want to say, Doctor Constantine?"
Varian sighed in his heart and said. "I'd be presumptuous enough to ask for a chance to treat your health."
"Hm…" Cassius' face softened but he shook his head. "Many have tried, Constantine. Old, experienced, and talented. They all failed. I appreciate your intentions but don't waste your request on something so useless."
At his words, Prime Minister Zed and Grand Admiral Yaras sighed. Centaurus was in a terrible state now. But at least, it's internally stable. But during those days, it was on the verge of an implosion.
Cassius killed many powerhouses, entire forces, and even complete cities to keep the Duchy together.
While the Duchy stabilized despite the continuous decline, the Duke paid a terrible price. Despite having one of the best talents of his generation, his path forward was blocked forever.
Now, he's barely a rank 5 and even exerting that strength was costly. If Cassius only abandoned Centaurus and joined the Kingdom's army, he'd have reached rank 6 by now and would be enjoying all the luxuries life had to offer.
Perhaps that's why, even though they too had many offers from the outside, Prime Minister Zed and Grand Admiral Yaras stayed back home unlike the many talents that left the Duchy forever.
Alas, such a patriotic man couldn't be cured even by the best of doctors. This young man, Constantine, had no chance to begin with.
But Constantine created the medicine to treat drug addiction—something that all doctors of Duchy failed for decades.
If so, then maybe, just maybe…
A glimmer of hope appeared in the two old men.
"I know many have failed, but still, I insist. Please grant me this request." Varian stressed.
"This is considered to be your request, yes?" The Duke asked for one last time.
Varian glanced at Akira from the corner of his eye and cursed inside his mind. "Yes. This is my request."
"Very well. I'll call you for a check-up soon." The Duke stood up and clapped his hands. "The court ends here."
Akira turned to Varian with bright eyes and walked away with relaxed steps. The whole time, a big smile threatened to break out on her lips.
Looking at the Duke's loving smile as he interacted with the Princess, Varian
wondered how much Akira lied.
If he didn't follow her and introduced himself as an unknown powerhouse, would he really have gotten killed? Perhaps he could've built a more honest relationship.
But now he'd never know.
'I landed up straight in the middle of a political shit storm.' Varian smiled wryly and followed the maids who guided him to living quarters in one of the guest palaces.
— — — —
"He called himself Constantine?" On the faraway planet of Ubiq, the veiled woman chuckled. "Doesn't suit him at all."
"The Barix Province has sent their delegation. It looks normal on the surface but it's composed of their best fighters. The stage is ripe for a takeover." An obedient voice reported from the shadows.
"Then 'He' must be getting anxious." The veiled woman squinted her eyes and appeared on top of the tall Infinity Store.
She saw the wealthy part of the Ubiq living their lives lavishly and the destitute part of the Ubiq struggling to survive. Even though their lives were getting better, the poor in Ubiq was at least a decade away from decency. On the other hand, the rich were getting richer by swallowing the assets of the drug mafia.
Even though Ubiq was shining brighter every day, the darkness lurking underneath grew thicker.
But she wasn't moved by these changes.
Cities rise and fall. People prosper and struggle. Duchies get created and destroyed. Even though she's considered a young girl in her race, she had witnessed a lot already.
The sands of time numbed her to the suffering she was once so moved by. Now, her emotions remained flat for the most part.
Overlooking Ubiq, she muttered. "Centaurus is in a strategic location. Once it falls, it'll be a weak point in the line of defense."
There were hundreds of Duchies on the border of the Alliance. One weak Duchy might not seem much by itself. But when multiple such weaknesses were created and exploited, the tide of war would turn.
The man she'd been looking for was working solely to cripple Centaurus and weaken this region for the foreseeable future.
He laid the chess pieces carefully.
Havocs, users of fire and lightning elements, were a persecuted tribe from the Nexus Empire. That man saved and relocated them here. The Havocs established a drug empire and orchestrated the decay of Centaurus.
Simultaneously, he 'assisted' the growth of Barix Province. Not too much but not too little.
Barring the Duke himself, Barix Province could go toe to toe with Centaurus in high-end combat power.
Weaken a Duchy, strengthen a Province. Get them to roughly match each other's strengths.
What next?
The Veiled woman smiled lightly. But it was a cold, ruthless smile.
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